Amazon is changing its policy regarding employees returning to the office, now requiring them to be in the office five days a week starting January 2, 2025. The current pandemic-era hybrid policy allows employees to work in the office just three days a week. CEO Andy Jassy believes that this change will help employees “invent, collaborate, and be connected enough to each other and our culture to deliver the absolute best for customers and the business.”
Jassy has always advocated for employees to work in the office, as he believes that a physical presence improves company culture. He stated in a previous memo that the advantages of being together in the office are significant and that it helps with collaboration, innovation, and strengthening the company’s culture. Employees who do not follow this new policy may have a negative impact on their chances of being promoted, and exceptions for working from home will require an additional layer of leadership approval.
There has been resistance from some Amazon employees to this mandate, with some staging a walkout at its Seattle headquarters last year. The walkout was in response to various grievances, including the push to get workers back in the office at least three days a week. This resistance comes at a time when many companies have been more flexible with remote work policies, with only 4% of US CEOs and 4% of CEOs worldwide prioritizing a full return to the office, according to a CEO survey from The Conference Board.
It is not simple for Amazon to bring back many thousands of employees to its offices worldwide, so the company is giving teams time to develop a plan for this transition. Jassy believes that being together in the office has multiple benefits for employees, such as easier collaboration, better learning opportunities, and improved team connectivity. He is confident that working in the office will help employees learn, model, practice, and strengthen the company’s culture.
The new policy set by Amazon is a significant change from its previous hybrid policy, requiring employees to work in the office five days a week. While some employees may resist this change, Jassy believes that the advantages of being together in the office outweigh the challenges. Moving forward, employees will need to adhere to this new policy to ensure their chances of promotion and success within the company. Time will tell how this shift in policy will impact Amazon’s corporate culture and employee satisfaction.
